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Experienced world travelers are unanimously enthusiastic about Bhutan. Everything here is different, intriguing, serene, and peaceful. From the moment you emerge from your thrilling flight into the high Paro Valley, you will find validation for the King’s claim that his traditional Buddhist nation values GNH – Gross National Happiness – above material wealth.

In six days, focus on the beauty, culture, and charm of the two most famous towns in Bhutan — Paro and Thimphu, the capital. A few steps off the road, find yourself in a 12th-century monastery or a never-logged hemlock forest. Visit markets, artisans, archery tournaments, schools, farms, and whatever else piques your interest. Your Bhutanese Journeys guide will help you define your experience. We are ready to make these six days count among the most unique and inspiring days of your traveling life. We’re also ready to make your trip longer; ask about our array of fascinating extensions.

Experienced world travelers are unanimously enthusiastic about Bhutan. Everything here is different, intriguing, serene, and peaceful. From the moment you emerge from your thrilling flight into the high Paro Valley, you will find validation for the King’s claim that his traditional Buddhist nation values GNH – Gross National Happiness – above material wealth.

In six days, focus on the beauty, culture, and charm of the two most famous towns in Bhutan — Paro and Thimphu, the capital. A few steps off the road, find yourself in a 12th-century monastery or a never-logged hemlock forest. Visit markets, artisans, archery tournaments, schools, farms, and whatever else piques your interest. Your Bhutanese Journeys guide will help you define your experience. We are ready to make these six days count among the most unique and inspiring days of your traveling life. We’re also ready to make your trip longer; ask about our array of fascinating extensions.

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Great For

Flexibility

Serenity

Culture

Bhutan was more than I hoped. It was so beautiful, and the people so kind and hospitable. Our guide was really vigilant….Mary Jo Lang

Itinerary

ADay 1Arrive Paro & Drive to Thimphu

Fly into Paro, enjoying extraordinary views of the Himalayas (arrival dates into Paro may vary according to city of origin). The landing in Paro is dramatic, on the single runway at the bottom of a long valley with snowy peaks on either side. Drive about an hour to Thimphu and savor the serenity of Bhutan and the opportunity to converse with your guide. The afternoon and evening are free to rest or walk around Thimphu (7,656’). This is the world’s only capital city without traffic lights. In sports fields, men and women love to practice archery, the national sport. Note the traditional dress: kiras, long wrap-around dresses, for women, and ghos, knee-length robes, for men. Here, the modern meets the medieval. There are automobiles and storefronts, but a few blocks from the main street, farmers are still plowing with oxen, and bright red chili peppers are drying on rooftops. Roads quickly become footpaths as they lead up steep mountainsides.

Meals

Dinner

Lodging

Bhutanese-style lodge

BDay 2Thimpu City, Temples, & Cultural Institutions

There are many choices of activities today. Thimphu is the site of many national institutions which preserve history and perpetuate the pursuit of Gross National Happiness as a national goal. You may want to visit the Folk Heritage Museum, National Library of Ancient Texts, National Textile Museum, National Institute of Traditional Medicine, Royal Academy of Performing Arts, or one of several traditional artist-training programs.

Visit Tashichho Dzong, built in 1216 and completely renovated between 1962 and 1969 without the use of nails or written plans. Also visit Dechen Phodrang (Palace of Great Bliss), an active monastery with 500 monks. Earn a fantastic view at Changangkha Lhakhang, an old fortress temple and monastic school perched on a ridge above Thimphu.

Not far from Thimphu, there are numerous Buddhist temples and monasteries. Depending on your fitness and ambition, you can choose some combination of auto and hiking to visit one or more of them and possibly observe some ceremonial activity.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging

Bhutanese-style hotel

CDay 3Thimpu - Markets, Dzongs & Hikes (Sat)

On your second day in Thimphu, you may want to see more of the city sites or venture a bit farther out on foot or by car. Bhutan’s most striking buildings are the dzongs huge, traditionally-designed structures that serve as municipal administrative headquarters and as religious centers.

On Saturdays, the Weekend Market is a great way to experience local life. Throngs of Bhutanese from Thimpu and from great distances gather to sell their vegetables, traditional masks and textiles, incense, and jewelry.

If you would like to get a taste of trekking and nature observation, consider day hikes of two to four hours to visit Drolay Gomba, Lungchuzekha Gomba, Phajoding Gomba, or Trashigang Gomba. Your guide will help you decide which is the best choice based upon weather, season, and wildlife or temple ceremonies you might witness.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging

Bhutanese-style hotel

DDay 4Drive to Paro

Today you make the return one hour drive back to Paro (7382′), where you’ll travel even further back in time to a simpler, quieter place. Paro, located on the banks of the Paro Chhu (river), is in the center of an open valley. Entering via the road from Thimpu, you pass the archery ground. Today and tomorrow, there are various options for your visit. If you want to learn more about Buddhism, archaeology, and history consider touring Paro Rinpung Dzong, one of the most impressive dzongs in all Bhutan, a large Drukpa Kagyu Buddhist Monastery and fortress housing the monastic body and government offices. From here, there are famous views of the wooden covered bridge known as Nyamai Zam. Enjoy the fantastic architecture of Ugyen Pelri Thang Palace (the residence of the Queen Mother) from the outside and fine temples including Druk Choeding, built in 1525, and Dumtse Lhakhang, built in 1433. Ta Dzong, in the shape of a conch shell, contains a superb collection of ancient and modern religious Thangka paintings.

Journeys travelers love to accept the invitations of local farmers to visit inside their colorful farmhouses. Traditionally built with mud walls and wooden frames without nails, these houses are normally three stories high, with the ground floor used for the animals, the second floor used as the family living quarters, and the third floor generally used to store food and hay.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging

Bhutanese-style hotel

EDay 5Paro & Tiger’s Nest (Tatksang Monastery)

Visit more of Paro or go farther afield. The most classic half-day hike in Bhutan is the climb to famous Tiger’s Nest (Tatksang) Monastery on the side of a cliff almost 2,500 feet above the Paro valley. You can make the estimated two to three-hour hike up to the monastery, ride a pony most of the way up, or view the site from the road. From Tiger’s Nest, drive to the ruins of Drugyel Dzong for spectacular views of Mount Chomolhari. You might also stop at Kyichu Lhakang, one of the oldest and most beautiful temples in Bhutan, thought to have been built in 659 by King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet.

If your schedule allows you to spend another day in Bhutan, we recommend visiting the ancient Haa Valley. Occupied since before the sixth century, but first opened to foreigners in 2002, this area remains largely undeveloped and infrequently visited by tourists. Visit the Haa Dzong and the surrounding monasteries. This is an especially good option if the weather is clear; the ridge you cross between Paro and Haahas offers some of the best mountain views in this part of Bhutan.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging

Bhutanese-style hotel

FDay 6Depart Paro

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight. Or consider extending your trip with a few additional days to see more of Bhutan or other neighboring countries such as Nepal, India, or Thailand.

Best Time of Year to Visit

Itinerary

ADay 1Arrive Paro & Drive to Thimphu

Fly into Paro, enjoying extraordinary views of the Himalayas (arrival dates into Paro may vary according to city of origin). The landing in Paro is dramatic, on the single runway at the bottom of a long valley with snowy peaks on either side. Drive about an hour to Thimphu and savor the serenity of Bhutan and the opportunity to converse with your guide. The afternoon and evening are free to rest or walk around Thimphu (7,656’). This is the world’s only capital city without traffic lights. In sports fields, men and women love to practice archery, the national sport. Note the traditional dress: kiras, long wrap-around dresses, for women, and ghos, knee-length robes, for men. Here, the modern meets the medieval. There are automobiles and storefronts, but a few blocks from the main street, farmers are still plowing with oxen, and bright red chili peppers are drying on rooftops. Roads quickly become footpaths as they lead up steep mountainsides.

Meals

Dinner

Lodging

Bhutanese-style lodge

BDay 2Thimpu City, Temples, & Cultural Institutions

There are many choices of activities today. Thimphu is the site of many national institutions which preserve history and perpetuate the pursuit of Gross National Happiness as a national goal. You may want to visit the Folk Heritage Museum, National Library of Ancient Texts, National Textile Museum, National Institute of Traditional Medicine, Royal Academy of Performing Arts, or one of several traditional artist-training programs.

Visit Tashichho Dzong, built in 1216 and completely renovated between 1962 and 1969 without the use of nails or written plans. Also visit Dechen Phodrang (Palace of Great Bliss), an active monastery with 500 monks. Earn a fantastic view at Changangkha Lhakhang, an old fortress temple and monastic school perched on a ridge above Thimphu.

Not far from Thimphu, there are numerous Buddhist temples and monasteries. Depending on your fitness and ambition, you can choose some combination of auto and hiking to visit one or more of them and possibly observe some ceremonial activity.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging

Bhutanese-style hotel

CDay 3Thimpu - Markets, Dzongs & Hikes (Sat)

On your second day in Thimphu, you may want to see more of the city sites or venture a bit farther out on foot or by car. Bhutan’s most striking buildings are the dzongs huge, traditionally-designed structures that serve as municipal administrative headquarters and as religious centers.

On Saturdays, the Weekend Market is a great way to experience local life. Throngs of Bhutanese from Thimpu and from great distances gather to sell their vegetables, traditional masks and textiles, incense, and jewelry.

If you would like to get a taste of trekking and nature observation, consider day hikes of two to four hours to visit Drolay Gomba, Lungchuzekha Gomba, Phajoding Gomba, or Trashigang Gomba. Your guide will help you decide which is the best choice based upon weather, season, and wildlife or temple ceremonies you might witness.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging

Bhutanese-style hotel

DDay 4Drive to Paro

Today you make the return one hour drive back to Paro (7382′), where you’ll travel even further back in time to a simpler, quieter place. Paro, located on the banks of the Paro Chhu (river), is in the center of an open valley. Entering via the road from Thimpu, you pass the archery ground. Today and tomorrow, there are various options for your visit. If you want to learn more about Buddhism, archaeology, and history consider touring Paro Rinpung Dzong, one of the most impressive dzongs in all Bhutan, a large Drukpa Kagyu Buddhist Monastery and fortress housing the monastic body and government offices. From here, there are famous views of the wooden covered bridge known as Nyamai Zam. Enjoy the fantastic architecture of Ugyen Pelri Thang Palace (the residence of the Queen Mother) from the outside and fine temples including Druk Choeding, built in 1525, and Dumtse Lhakhang, built in 1433. Ta Dzong, in the shape of a conch shell, contains a superb collection of ancient and modern religious Thangka paintings.

Journeys travelers love to accept the invitations of local farmers to visit inside their colorful farmhouses. Traditionally built with mud walls and wooden frames without nails, these houses are normally three stories high, with the ground floor used for the animals, the second floor used as the family living quarters, and the third floor generally used to store food and hay.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging

Bhutanese-style hotel

EDay 5Paro & Tiger’s Nest (Tatksang Monastery)

Visit more of Paro or go farther afield. The most classic half-day hike in Bhutan is the climb to famous Tiger’s Nest (Tatksang) Monastery on the side of a cliff almost 2,500 feet above the Paro valley. You can make the estimated two to three-hour hike up to the monastery, ride a pony most of the way up, or view the site from the road. From Tiger’s Nest, drive to the ruins of Drugyel Dzong for spectacular views of Mount Chomolhari. You might also stop at Kyichu Lhakang, one of the oldest and most beautiful temples in Bhutan, thought to have been built in 659 by King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet.

If your schedule allows you to spend another day in Bhutan, we recommend visiting the ancient Haa Valley. Occupied since before the sixth century, but first opened to foreigners in 2002, this area remains largely undeveloped and infrequently visited by tourists. Visit the Haa Dzong and the surrounding monasteries. This is an especially good option if the weather is clear; the ridge you cross between Paro and Haahas offers some of the best mountain views in this part of Bhutan.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging

Bhutanese-style hotel

FDay 6Depart Paro

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight. Or consider extending your trip with a few additional days to see more of Bhutan or other neighboring countries such as Nepal, India, or Thailand.

$2,100

Druk Airfares To/From Paro (estimated)

+ $550 - $1,000

Single Supplement Icon/Info CopyCreated with Sketch.

+ $250

Need to Know

Druk Air or Bhutan Air operates on a “daylight restricted” basis only and is totally dependent on weather. Therefore, flights can sometimes be delayed. It is highly recommended that passenger’s allow at least 24 hours transit time for connecting flights from Bangkok, Kathmandu, or Delhi. It is also recommended that you travel on non-restricted tickets so that if a connection is missed, it can be rerouted or endorsed onto another carrier. This itinerary may require amendment due to local air schedules, which are subject to change.

Pricing and Payment

Reservations are accepted and confirmed after we receive a non-refundable booking deposit and a Reservation Form signed by each adult on the trip as well as by the guardian for each child on the trip, and if space is available. For most group departures, the booking deposit is $500 per person per trip, though for some trips it may be more, as noted in the trip description.

The minimum booking deposit requirement for custom trips is $800 per person, and this deposit is non-refundable. A trip-planning fee of $250 per itinerary is also charged to cover costs of preparing itinerary proposals for custom trips. This fee is credited to the cost of the trip, but is nonrefundable if you do not take the trip. Custom travel during holiday seasons may require a deposit prior to trip confirmation.

An invoice for the total estimated cost of your itinerary will be sent with your reservation confirmation. For both group departures and custom trips, a second deposit of $1,000 per person is due 120 days prior to departure or at the time of booking for reservations made fewer than 120 days before departure. The balance as shown on your invoice is due 60 days prior to departure regardless of whether extensions or other arrangements are pending. Although we do our best to avoid increasing prices after we receive your deposit, in some cases it may be necessary to adjust pricing even after we receive payment to allow for changes in group size, rooming status, currency exchange rate fluctuations, fuel surcharges and other circumstances attendant to international travel. Late payments may jeopardize confirmation of your itinerary and in some cases may result in additional fees. If we have not received final payment 30 days prior to departure your reservation may be canceled and subject to our Cancellation & Refund Policy stated below.

We accept payments by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or check drawn on a U.S. bank account. Payment for airfare is required at the time of ticketing. Discounts that may be available for some trips are not available toward bookings made through travel agencies.

Late Signups

Early reservations are encouraged! Some trips and flights fill several months before departure. We can confirm your space on a trip once we receive your deposit and signed Reservation Form. We try, but cannot guarantee, to accept late signups. In the event that we are able to accept reservations fewer than 60 days before a trip departure, additional fees may apply to cover administrative costs necessary to expedite your reservation confirmation and transmit your departure materials. For reservations made fewer than 60 days before departure, full payment will be due at the time of booking.

Cancellations & Refunds

If you must cancel before departure, you may request a refund according to the following schedule. Some trips require additional non-refundable payments as noted in the trip description or in the trip itinerary.

Days Prior to Departure

Cancellation Penalty

90 or more

Non-refundable booking deposit and trip planning fee, if applicable

45-89

30% of total land costs

31-44

75% of total land costs

0-30

100% of total land costs

Please note: cancellation of airfare, other transit, and lodging is subject to the policies of the individual carriers or providers and are not included in the schedule above. Additional cancellation fees are the responsibility of the traveler. We strongly recommend that all travelers purchase travel insurance that includes coverage for trip cancellation or interruption which may reimburse you for cancellation penalties and extra trip expenses should a circumstance covered by the policy force you to cancel or interrupt your trip.

Departure is defined as the date on which travelers will leave their home state, province or city, or the trip departure date as indicated on the trip itinerary, whichever comes first. Cancelation date will be considered the date that we receive written notification of your intent to cancel.

Payments due at the time of cancellation remain the responsibility of the client. No partial refunds are possible for unused hotel rooms, air or land travel, trekking days, or other sight-seeing arrangements included in the land cost.

In the event Journeys International cancels a trip, for any reason, all money for services described in the trip description, less airline ticket cancellation fees, will be refunded.

Air Fares

We can help you to secure air travel arrangements to correspond with land travel booked through Journeys International. We work with an airfare consolidator to assist in booking the flights that suit your needs. Journeys International may charge a ticketing fee for this service. For group departures, if you prefer to fly on dates other than those listed as trip dates, or if you arrive at your destination other than at the group arrival time, then you may incur an additional fee to cover the separate transfer, contingency, and coordination costs which frequently arise from arrival and departure on flights different from our regular bookings. We will let you know about these fees ahead of time, if they apply. If you must change your air routing after ticketing, there is a charge of $50 per change, in addition to change or cancellation charges levied by the airline.

If you decide to make your own flight arrangements, you must provide Journeys International with a complete copy of your itinerary showing departure and arrival flights and times. You should plan to arrange your own air travel if you are using mileage credit or originating outside North America, but please be in touch with our office before you finalize ticketing so that we can help you to coordinate the correct arrival and departure dates and times.

Transfers Between Trips

You may transfer between some trips upon written request. More than 90 days before departure, the deposit transfer fee is $100 per person plus any cancellation fees charged by hotels or ground service providers. Less than 90 days before departure, full cancellation penalties from the original trip apply. In the event that Journeys International cancels a trip, you may transfer the full amount of your land payments to another trip without penalty.

Expenses Covered

Normally, our stated land costs include the cost of all guides, leaders, permits obtained after arrival, lodging accommodations, food and entry fees as specified, and all surface transportation associated with the planned itinerary. We do our best to avoid increasing prices after receipt of your deposit, but, rarely, factors beyond our control might require us to change our prices without prior notice, even after you have signed up.

Expenses Not Covered

Costs not included in the price may include: meals not indicated as included in itineraries; meals prior to arrival in starting cities; transfers, if not arriving or departing on the scheduled group flights; soft drinks, bottled water, and alcoholic beverages; medical expenses, costs of hospitalization, or evacuation from remote areas; laundry; airport departure taxes not included on your airline ticket; accommodations en route to starting cities; visas; airfares; gratuities; and insurance.

If a trip must be extended or an itinerary modified due to weather, road conditions, labor interruption, lack of transportation, political or civil disputes, medical emergency, or other causes beyond our control, then the traveler may incur additional costs that are not included in the trip price. We strongly recommend that all travelers obtain travel insurance to cover these risks.

Group-Sized Pricing & Group Minimums

Many trips are guaranteed to depart at prices published on our website with as few as two participants. However, in some cases it is necessary to adjust prices to reflect smaller group sizes. We do everything we can to make a trip operate as planned even with a single participant. Additional costs for small groups amounts vary from trip to trip. Final decision to cancel a trip due to insufficient signups is made 30 days prior to departure.

Pre-Departure Services

We look forward to working with you! After we receive your deposit we will send you a pre-departure information packet containing things like medical and immunization information, visa and other permit forms, a recommendation for travel insurance, packing checklist, reading list, cross-cultural information, and an initial invoice for the balance due. If you would like, we can also book your extended land travel arrangements for before and after your trip. About 2-3 weeks before departure, we will send you a final departure packet including last minute reminders and local contact information for your destination. We send some of our materials by mail, so if you are leaving home before the scheduled trip departure date, please let us know how we can best reach you so that you will receive your materials prior to your departure.

Please call our office at any time if you have questions about your trip or for additional information.

Lodging Accommodations

Lodging accommodations are usually double occupancy in hotel rooms, tents, or other facilities as described or noted in trip itineraries. Please contact our office to discuss pricing and availability of alternative accommodations. We try to honor specific requests for lodging, but in some cases we may have to book and confirm equivalent standard accommodations. If you are traveling alone but would prefer a roommate, then let us know! We are often able to match solo travelers. If a roommate is not available or if you prefer single accommodation, then you must pay the Single Supplement, if one applies. On some trips, it is not possible to guarantee single accommodations.

Fitness to Travel

Good physical and mental health are essential for the enjoyment of Journeys International’s trips. In many cases participants travel in rugged areas remote from modern medical facilities. Good physical conditioning is recommended as preparation for all trips, especially those involving trekking. Most trips require some walking. By paying the booking deposit and signing the Reservation Form, the traveler certifies that he/she is fit for rigorous travel and does not have any physical, mental, or other condition that would create a hazard for him/herself or other travelers. It is essential that any participant with a medical condition requiring regular treatment or which may be affected by vigorous activity, prolonged travel, high altitude, heat, cold, natural phenomena, or particular foods, notify Journeys International in writing prior to booking.

We assume no responsibility for medical care and we cannot guarantee meeting special dietary requirements or vegetarian needs. Participants may be required to furnish a physician’s statement of good health. Journeys International’s or the individual trip leader’s or guide’s judgment shall provide the ultimate determination of an individual’s fitness to embark upon, or to continue, a trip. Journeys International reserves the right to refuse reservations or deny participation prior to departure of anyone whom it deems unsuitable for a trip. Once a trip has been confirmed, medical circumstances will not be considered as exceptions to our cancellation policy. All participants must be covered by a current major medical insurance policy for the duration of their trip. Proof of such coverage may be requested.

Duration 6 Days

The number of days, or duration, in a destination corresponds with the itinerary as published. This is the time period covered by the land cost.

Group Size 2 - 12

The stated range indicates minimum required for guaranteed departure and maximum accepted on the scheduled dates. Exceptions can often be made for private departures.

Comfort Level

Delightful

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Bhutanese-style hotels

Activity Level

Active

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Why Journeys International

Our purpose is to understand the journey you are on – not just the vacation you want to take – and to help you on your way.

We are here to help you plan the trip that will move you closer to your goals and help you fulfill your dreams.

We are here to help you plan a more inspiring, more provocative, more breathtaking, more transformational adventure.

We say “adventure” and not “trip” because, for us, a trip is just going someplace else, but an adventure is an experience that takes you someplace beyond your comfort zone – and therefore maximizes the potential for wonder, discovery, and potentially transformation.

Why trust Journeys to plan that kind of experience with you?

Journeys is an award-winning industry-leader with more than 40 years in business planning creative and thoughtful adventures in interesting places around the world

Our staff is professional and devoted, with adventure specialists in Ann Arbor and guides in the field who take pride in traveler satisfaction; many stay with us for decades

Our Ecological Code of Ethics has long stood as a model for others, and our Earth Preservation Fund puts our money where our mouth is

We go to the farthest corners of the earth – you’ll see some pretty remote destinations on our list, and if you want to challenge us with something new, we’ll likely be willing (though we’ll make sure you know if we’ve never experienced it firsthand)

We’re real people like you, starting with the real person who will answer the phone, right through the owner, Robin Pollak, who you can talk to any time you want (or even her parents, Joan & Will Weber, who started the company!)

We ask lots of questions and get to know you as well as possible to we can design the best experience for YOU

Your unique itinerary includes sites, accommodations, activities, and meetings with people hand selected for personal goals, passions, interests and abilities

Your personal adventure specialist stays with you from trip planning through departure to answer all your questions – promptly – and make sure every detail is handled so you are well prepared for your trip

Our partners on the ground in your destination will welcome you as a friend of a friend; we’ve been working with many of them for ages

We’re open and clear, and offer a complete picture of what you can expect while traveling. We don’t want to make an easy sale; we want to make an honest one.

24-hour emergency phone support while traveling

We’ll be excited to hear about the trip when you get back, and take all feedback seriously

Our travelers come back again and again, for five, ten, or more adventures — and they trust us enough to send their friends to us, too

Superior

Deluxe

Uncommon

The most indulgent accommodations arranged specially for private trips.

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Single Supplement

The single supplement is applicable if a roommate is not available or if single accommodation is specifically requested. While single accommodation is not available on all trips, we will try and honor this request whenever possible.